SHAFTER, CA -- It's a day Shafter has been waiting on for two years. Tuesday their Community Correctional Facility or CCF re-opened.
The first state inmates were bused to the facility Monday night. Officials said 29 are currently housed at the facility but by February they plan to be at capacity with all their corrections officer positions filled.
We have been asked not identify the first names of officers in this story for security reasons.
It's Officer J. Rubill's first day in uniform at Shafter CCF after he was laid off two years ago.
"New jobs, new people," said Officer Rubill. "When you come in here it's like you never stopped doing it."
In 2011, due to prison realignment the state stopped sending inmates to all Kern County Community Correctional Facilities forcing correctional officers like Rubill to get a new job.
"I actually was working in the oil fields for the time being," said Officer Rubill. "Oil fields were not my first choice but I did it to support my family."
A family that will now be supported by the CCF once again as city officials and Assemblymember Rudy Salas announced Tuesday the correctional facility is back.
"We're doing all this in collaboration with the state," said Assemblymember Salas.
Officials said the CCF will hold the lowest levels of state inmates.
"We operated for 21 years housing level 1 and 2 inmates," said Paul Lozano, Chief of Corrections for Shafter's CCF. "This new round they are still level 1's and 2's but we've added a significant amount of extra security."
This includes a perimeter fence and two gun towers. In total Shafter corrections officials said they are investing $1.8 million to get ready to hold 580 state prisoners bringing in more than $65 million over the next 5 years.
"Those funds go back into the community for schools and things of that nature so it's a win win situation for everybody," said Chief Lozano.
Chief Lozano said it's especially a win for former Shafter CCF employees like Officer C. Endsley. He worked here eight years before he was laid off.
"We weren't sure if it was going to open back up or not but I am glad the state got us back open and we're up and running," said Officer Endsley.
Delano and Taft's Community Correctional Facility also have deals with the state to reopen. Delano is set to get prisoners next month.
The first state inmates were bused to the facility Monday night. Officials said 29 are currently housed at the facility but by February they plan to be at capacity with all their corrections officer positions filled.
We have been asked not identify the first names of officers in this story for security reasons.
It's Officer J. Rubill's first day in uniform at Shafter CCF after he was laid off two years ago.
"New jobs, new people," said Officer Rubill. "When you come in here it's like you never stopped doing it."
In 2011, due to prison realignment the state stopped sending inmates to all Kern County Community Correctional Facilities forcing correctional officers like Rubill to get a new job.
"I actually was working in the oil fields for the time being," said Officer Rubill. "Oil fields were not my first choice but I did it to support my family."
A family that will now be supported by the CCF once again as city officials and Assemblymember Rudy Salas announced Tuesday the correctional facility is back.
"We're doing all this in collaboration with the state," said Assemblymember Salas.
Officials said the CCF will hold the lowest levels of state inmates.
"We operated for 21 years housing level 1 and 2 inmates," said Paul Lozano, Chief of Corrections for Shafter's CCF. "This new round they are still level 1's and 2's but we've added a significant amount of extra security."
This includes a perimeter fence and two gun towers. In total Shafter corrections officials said they are investing $1.8 million to get ready to hold 580 state prisoners bringing in more than $65 million over the next 5 years.
"Those funds go back into the community for schools and things of that nature so it's a win win situation for everybody," said Chief Lozano.
Chief Lozano said it's especially a win for former Shafter CCF employees like Officer C. Endsley. He worked here eight years before he was laid off.
"We weren't sure if it was going to open back up or not but I am glad the state got us back open and we're up and running," said Officer Endsley.
Delano and Taft's Community Correctional Facility also have deals with the state to reopen. Delano is set to get prisoners next month.